Set Free Issue No.29  by Martin Tuson

MY TESTIMONY - by John Ferguson (H.M.P Maghaberry)

I was released in 1997 after spending 14 years in prison. At the start, when I was on remand, I went to church every Sunday and went to Bible meetings every Wednesday. When I was moved to the Maze prison in 1985, I went to church a few times and Bible class once. Then I said to myself, this is not for me. I spent 4 years in the Maze, then was moved to Maghaberry where I stayed until I was released in 1997. All through this time I did not even think about God, as I just wanted to do my time the best way I could.

While I was in prison on the working-out unit, I met my wife through a friend (blind date). Once I finished the working-out unit I moved in with my wife and got engaged. We married the following year and then our son Craig was born on the 1st of October. Everything was going well for us both, and in the summer of 1998 we bought our first house. We were both working in Montupet and earning a good wage. Then we sold our house and moved to Lisburn were we bought a bigger house as my wife had two daughters from previous relationships. We were happy at the start until everything started to go wrong.

About two weeks before I returned to prison I asked my wife would she go to church with me that Sunday, and she said no. I was very scared of going on my own, and all that Sunday I was troubled with worries and didn't know what to do or who to turn to. Then the fortnight after that I went out touring on my motor bike for charity, and once it was finished everybody went to Derriaghy Cricket Club where they were holding a mini moto event (motor bikes). My wife came down with the kids - everything then went sour. I told her I was going to work and it was then she told me in front of everybody that our marriage was over. I went home to read a letter she said she wrote, and beside the letter were two wedding rings. When I went back to talk to her, she had left with the three kids. My mind was in turmoil and I finished up drunk, and I drove about all night trying to find out where my wife and kids were. That was the night I ended up re-offending and finished back in prison. Now I am in the middle of my divorce and I get to see my son every two weeks, when my mum and aunt come up for visits. At Christmas time I was going through a very bad patch as I had let everyone down, and now I had hit rock bottom. Everything I worked for from 1997 to 2002 I had lost - my job, my house, car, motorbike and some good friends. My ex-wife does not want me to have anything to do with my two stepchildren.

I was introduced to Martin at the start of January this year and every time I spoke to him I was crying with hurt and pain. It was on Friday 17th January this year that I let the Lord into my life and I have now got peace and joy within. I have learnt to put all of my trust in the Lord and to take all of my problems to Him through prayer. I still find things hard but I am learning to cope better.

PRAISE GOD, John continues to grow in Christ and has experienced many powerful miracles in his life. He is a living testimony to the power of God.


Released - by Trevor McCandless

I am an inmate in H.M.P. Maghaberry, currently serving a life sentence, of which I have served ten years. In that time I have had the honour and privilege to know and call Martin Tuson my friend and brother in Christ.

Martin has been a tower of strength for me throughout my time in prison, especially when it comes to my spiritual walk with Christ, but I have to say that the only one who made that walk hard was me. I did not want to move on with life and would not forgive myself for what I had done in the past. But if truth be told I was feeling sorry for myself and had wrapped myself in a world of self-pity. Because of this I had lost a lot of good friends who in the past had tried to help me. I also had left myself wide open for criticism, but little did I know that all that was to change when I met Martin one day in the education block of the prison.

It was a Friday afternoon and he was over visiting other inmates. He came into the room where I was working and introduced himself to me. In the past I had heard other inmates in the house talking about this man called Martin Tuson, so I already new something about him and his work for the Lord. On this particular day I had had a severe headache and a terrible pain in the neck. I mentioned this to Martin and he asked me if he could pray for me. At that moment I looked at him and thought to myself, "what the heck, I'll give it a try". What did I have to lose?

He placed his hand on my head and began to pray for me, and as he prayed I felt a heavy burden lift from my shoulders. Also, whilst Martin was praying I felt this warm sensation come over me, along with a calm that I had not felt in a very long time. I have no doubt in my mind that Martin is an instrument for our Lord and His good works, but it is not just the physical healing that I want to talk about, but the inner peace that I have received as well since trusting in the Lord.

As I said earlier, I could not forgive myself for the things I had done in the past. For me to have this inner peace I had to make changes in my life. These changes had to start with me forgiving myself for the things in the past. The only way I could achieve this was to ask the Lord for repentance of my sins and really mean it. Once I would do this there could be no turning back. This was going to be hard, because not only had I to forgive myself, there were also the people I had hurt in the past with harsh words and deeds. This can sometimes be a hard thing to do, because our human nature is too proud to let us say sorry to someone we have wronged in the past.

Before coming into prison I had no time for anything to do with God or the church - I thought it was boring and a waste of time. Every chance I got I would argue with Christians for the sake of it and I would try and disprove the work of the Lord. I was never happy, I was always restless, I got into fights and I thought I knew best and that I was always right and everyone else was wrong in their thinking, and that they were the ones with the problem, not me. When I first started drinking it was only at weekends. I would head out with a few mates to a disco in the Port (Portrush, that is). Some of you call them night clubs now - this may give you a clue to my age.

Then things got out of hand and I started drinking every night of the week to make myself feel better. This was not enough for me and then I started drinking through the day. It got so bad that I couldn't even hold down a job. I would blame the job. I would say it's boring or there wasn't enough money in it. I was drinking a bottle of Vodka a day, as well as cans of beer and bottles of wine. I didn't see that I had a problem with alcohol at the time. I also didn't see how much of a strain this was putting on my marriage, which eventually led to the marriage coming to an end and me coming into prison.

It took me some time to get my head around things and accept responsibility for things I had done in the past, and what I was in for, as well as the people I had hurt along the way, but with the help of Martin and other fellow brothers in Christ I was able to find this inner peace that I have always been looking for. I am more free now, more than I have ever been in my entire life. I can hear some of you saying, "right, this is one of those jail Christians talking" - but it's true, folks, I no longer need a bottle to make me happy.

In trusting in the Lord, I have received my self-confidence back again and I no longer worry about what people say or think. Also I am able to make decisions about my future outside of prison. If we read Colossians 2 v.13, it reads, "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins". What this verse said to me was that, because I had asked God to forgive me of my sins and because I believed in God's son Jesus Christ, I was forgiven. I was forgiven for everything I had done in my past life, which has been erased forever. But don't get me wrong, I still have my ups and downs every day just the same as everybody else, and every day for me now is a work in progress with my walk with the Lord. But the big difference this time around for me is that I have the Lord on my side and He is very patient with me, always believing in me, and trusting in me, so all I can say to anyone reading this today is to give it a try. Just forgive yourself and ask the Lord to come into your life today.

If I can do it, anyone can. I leave you with this prayer called The Miracle Prayer. A good friend in Christ gave me this prayer to help me with my walk with Christ; I now pass it on to you for you to start your walk with Christ:

"Lord Jesus I come before you just as I am. I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins. Please forgive me. In your name Lord Jesus, I forgive all others for what they have done against me and to me - I forgive them and bless them. Lord Jesus I love you. In your name Lord Jesus I renounce Satan and the evil spirits and their works each and every day. Lord Jesus I give you my entire self now and forever. Lord Jesus I love you. I invite you into my life, Jesus, this day and every day, just the same as yesterday. I accept you as my Lord, my God and my Saviour. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul and spirit, guide me every day. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus I love you, I praise you Lord Jesus, I thank you Lord Jesus, I adore you Lord Jesus, I shall follow you every day of my life, in your name I pray, your precious blood forever in my heart. Amen."

ISAIAH 42 v.16: "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.


Testimony of Healing - by William Murphy (Maghaberry Prison, N.Ireland)

I first saw Martin in prison, on the wings and in the yard when he was visiting inmates. I asked some of the other inmates who he was. The reply that I got was that it is Martin also known as Jesus, as they said that he could cure people by praying for them. Many prisoners told me that he had helped them, I thought to myself "headers" - they have just healed over a period of time by themselves.

Through time I saw more and more of Martin, and a few more rumours of inmates who had been healed - these people were good people. Anyway, a few months ago while playing football I fell and landed on my elbow, and ended up with a chipped bone. This was painful; I could not straighten my arm properly without pain. I got talking to another prisoner about the Bible - he's for and I'm against, we had a good chat. Then I was placed in the punishment unit known as the "boards" for a week. Someone sent Martin over (for a laugh, I thought). Martin got talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, and to give him his dues I listened, but not completely as I am a non-believer in Christianity. For I have friends who say they are Christians but in my eyes they are not. But I could see Martin was different; he had no need to come into prison or even see me. He did not have a lot of time to spend with me. Before he left he asked me if I had anything wrong with my health. I lied and told him no. He said he would be back to see me. True to his word he entered my cell one day, to visit and see how I was getting on. We chatted for a while and he asked me again was there anything wrong with me, as he could see that I had discomfort with my arm. This time I told him what had happened while I was playing football. Then Martin came out with it: he said the Lord Jesus Christ can heal you. I thought to myself 'no way', as I had chipped a bone in my elbow. Martin asked if he could pray with me. I thought why not, it can't do any harm. He put his hand on my shoulder, not my elbow where the problem was. We both bowed our heads and Martin started praying, and at the end we both said our amens. Martin then asked me to do something that I could not do before, so I straightened my arm out and what a surprise - NO PAIN. I sat there moving my elbow in all different directions just to find a sore spot. To my amazement I couldn't find a sore spot; this was over a month ago and there's still no pain.


Testimony of Healing - by Paul, H.M.P. Maghaberry Prison

As a Christian in prison I enjoy fund-raising events to help people less fortunate than myself. On 17th March 2005 I was planning to run a marathon to raise money for the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association. As my training intensified I picked up injuries on my feet, and one week before my run my feet were in complete agony with blisters and bruises. I was convinced my marathon was over before it had even started.

My dear friend Martin visited one Friday afternoon, five days before my run. We chatted for a while and I then told him about my situation with my feet. We prayed a short meaningful prayer asking our Father in Heaven to heal and bless my feet. I then took off one of my socks; my bruises were not black or swollen, just red in colour, I stepped up to walk and there was no pain. We praised God, our Lord, for this miracle. I was able to run my marathon and raise funds for the charity.


GOD'S POWER - by Joe Lockhart, H.M.P. Maghaberry

Just recently my Lord honoured me. I had been doing a bit of training when I went over on my ankle. Now it was all right that day, but later that night while walking around the yard it got very sore to the extent where I could hardly walk. Just previously I saw brother Martin Tuson who comes into the prison to minister and heal in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I had just met Martin and I knew this guy was and is blessed by the Lord just by sitting and sharing the word of God.

So Martin gave me a prayer that the Lord had given him to put on paper. People as far as Africa have been healed through this prayer. Because my young sister had died due to drugs I had said I wouldn't even as much as put a pain killer in my mouth; I just decided to put all my trust in Jesus, so that night around 8:30 p.m. in my cell, and in pure agony, I pulled out that bit of paper with the prayer on it, I held my ankle and read out the prayer. The Lord spoke to me in my mind and said you will be fine in the morning. The next morning I woke up, I moved my foot. It was like new, truly amazing. This was just one occasion; another time I hurt my arm on the punch bag. I prayed the healing prayer and was healed instantly. There are many others in this prison who have been healed by God through Martin Tuson, non-believers as well. These are just a few ways the Lord has been blessing others and myself.


Testimony of Healing - by Maria

Dear Martin, I had been suffering from asthma since the age of 13, brought on by stress of my father's death. From then to now I have been in hospitals several times and seen many doctors. I was given medication and had to take inhalers twice a day.

I also was suffering with pain in my chest, back and sides. I'd have to stop to catch my breath while out walking. My fiancé Jonathon became a Christian while in Maghaberry prison. He told me about you Martin and how he prayed to meet you, and he did meet you. Jonathon gave you my number and you rang me that day.

You prayed down the telephone for me and the pain was gone almost immediately. From that day until now I have had no pain at all, and it is a relief to be able to walk without stopping all the time. I am so happy that you rang me that day and that I was touched by the Lord who healed me.

Jonathon is really happy and has changed so much over the last few weeks - becoming a Christian has changed his life completely for the better. You inspire him so much, Martin.

Thank you and God Bless! Maria.


TWO DEMONS FROM HELL

Hello Everyone, what I am about to tell you is true and what happened to me can happen to you. My name is Laurence Edgar. I want to warn you against two friends I met when I was 14 years old - their names are BEER and VODKA. I met Beer first. I would meet with him every Saturday when we would go for a game of darts or play pool. He seemed to make me happy, he never had any objections if I wanted to meet him, he would always be there. One day this other so-called good friend introduced himself to me - his name was Vodka. He was a small guy, but he was much stronger than beer, and he could deliver a big punch. Not too long after meeting Vodka my life began being controlled by them, which I didn't notice at first. My one day a week with Beer extended to every night in the week with both of them. Life then seemed to be one big party, with Beer and Vodka as the main attractions. Everybody seemed to welcome them; they were a very popular couple at everyone's table. My mother knew more about their deceiving ways than I did - she tried to warn me against them, I wish now I had taken my mother's advice.

At 15 years of age I met this beautiful girl - her name is Jean. Jean was to become my wife. Soon children came along. I had a good job with a good future; life should have been my oyster. A beautiful wife and four lovely children, a good job, a nice wee house. Unfortunately I brought Beer and Vodka home to live with us; they interfered between Jean and me. Many a row started over Beer and Vodka. Instead of taking my wife's part I always sided with Beer and Vodka. I would storm out of the house in a bad temper, find a pub or a club, and that was me contented. It didn't really matter where I went as long as Beer and Vodka were with me. Beer and Vodka were not always faithful. As a matter of fact they were never faithful. But Jean stayed faithful even though Beer and Vodka were making life very difficult for her. To be second fiddle to Beer and Vodka was not very easy for her to live with, but she stayed faithful. Beer and Vodka were also troublemakers. Many a fight they got me into, I ended up with split lips, black eyes, busted noses, cuts, bruises and stitches, and they always started the trouble. Even so, the next day I would always go looking for them. I would never place any blame on Beer or Vodka - everyone was at fault except them. I also found out they were the type of friends you had to buy. They were expensive friends. To enjoy their company cost a lot of money. Many a time I had to borrow large sums of money just to be with them. I accumulated large debts, I sold all sorts of things to get money, and I lost a fortune trying to keep living with these two. I also noticed that they were thieves. They stole my respect, my sanity of mind, my jobs, my money, and my true friends. They even tried to steal Jean and my children. They stole my driving licence twice, they got me into trouble with the law. Everything that started out good for me they tried to steal. They even stole my health, damaged my liver and made me a thief as well. They reminded me of Judas Iscariot. One day Jesus said to his disciples, "I have chosen you twelve, yet one of you is a devil." Jesus had one bad apple who sold him out for thirty pieces of silver. Here I was with two bad apples. Two demons from hell and I couldn't let go of them. Another thing I noticed was: Jesus as we know is everywhere at the same time, so was Beer and Vodka. They could be with me at my table and the same time be at somebody else's table. They would slip into your life pretending to be good fun to be with. In fact you begin to wonder how anyone could enjoy themselves without them. All the time they are destroying everything you have. My nerves got so bad my doctor prescribed nerve stimulants - Vallium, Diazepam, and Roche. I suffered hangovers, shakes, withdrawals, headaches, DTs and nightmares. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I was even afraid to travel on buses. I had a terrible fear within me. I was suffering all this, yet I thought I could not live without Beer and Vodka. I even took them to bed with me. They consumed my whole life. The years were passing me by rapidly. I certainly blew my youth; the whole of my young life was wasted. I realised I should have dumped Beer and Vodka a long time ago. I kept on good terms with Beer and Vodka until I was 43 years of age. Now from 14 to 43 is 29 years - that is a long time to chum around with two demons from hell. At 43, Beer and Vodka put me in hospital for the last time. It was an alcoholic unit - I had an enlarged liver, and my internal organs were all damaged. I was told in the hospital that I didn't have much time to live. It was in this alcoholic unit I met a true friend, a friend who proved himself to me time and time again, He loves me and I love Him, He loves Jean and Jean loves Him. He is so easy to love. His name is Jesus Christ and He never leaves me, He protects me. He never does me any harm; He restored unto me all the things Beer and Vodka had stolen from me. I lost all my young years; they are in the past, and they are lost for good. But he give me back my health, He made me well again, my liver is healed, my mind is alert, my energy level is as if I was eighteen. I meet with Him every day and night. We have much to talk about, I talk and He just listens. He does an awful lot for me and Jean. The children are all grown up now and have children of their own. What I didn't give to my children I am now able to give to my grandchildren. They love their granddad. Beer and Vodka never bother me now, I have no further use for nerve stimulants. My new friend has a book - it is called the Holy Bible - you must have heard of it. It is a brilliant book; the Bible is a true story just like my own, only His is more powerful. My new friend is not a thief. He is not a liar, He will not rob you or get you into debt. He will not harm you in any way, He is the complete opposite of Beer and Vodka. They are destroying the world, but He is looking for those they have destroyed so that He can become their friend also. He wants to help you recover from all the hurt you may have endured. I am 58 years old now and I can honestly say that I am a much fitter man today, than I was when I was 43. Why have I written this story? I wrote this story to make people aware of those two demons from hell. Be warned, they are dangerous. They may seem like your friend now, but they will rob you of all your possessions. They will cost you everything, even your home and marriage. Get rid of them before it's too late, don't wait until the damage is done. I wish I had taken my mother's advice; please don't ignore mine. Don't think what happened to me won't happen to you, don't think you can control Beer and Vodka - you can't. They have a lot of other demon friends such as Gin, Rum, and Whisky. Don't have anything to do with them. If you need help, call upon my Friend. He is only too willing to help, and He is always there for you. His name is Jesus Christ; talk to him, He is a good listener. Tell Him your problems; don't be afraid to call upon Him, for He cares about you. I asked Him to help me and He did. If you find life hard for you at the moment, call upon my Friend. He comes well recommended. What He has done for me He has done for millions of people like me the world over. He has been doing it for many years. That is his work, and believe me, He is dedicated to His work. Go on - call on Him now. He's waiting.


God Needs No Key - by Martin Tuson

For over the past 6½ years I have walked the prison wings of Maghaberry. Within that time I have been a true and living witness to the power of the risen Saviour. I have seen with my own eyes God's miracles upon the inmates of this prison, too many to mention.

In the book of Romans chapter 5 verse 20 it says the following: "where sin abounds, grace does much more abound". How true this scripture is within Maghaberry prison. No matter how dark a place or a person may be, the Grace of God is far superior. You see God move in the darkest of places - praise His Holy and wonderful name.

I want to share one testimony with you which took place a while back. One day whilst in Erne House ( lifers' wing ) I was stopped by Anthony. He said to me that he had been watching me for 2 years. "Why do you come in every Friday?" he asked. I replied that I wasn't in prison because of me, but because of Christ in me. I told Anthony that God loved him and that He had given me that same love towards him. He went on to say that he had been talking to many of the other inmates about the miracles that they had experienced and also he mentioned faith healing. I told him I was no faith healer, but that my faith was in God to heal. I could not heal anyone.

He asked me to pray for him, as he had a shoulder injury which required surgery (8 mm of calcium build-up on his shoulder). I prayed for Anthony and God's power touched him; the pain left instantly. He had to go back to the hospital again, the doctor x-rayed his shoulder with startling results, all the calcium build-up had vanished. When Anthony saw the x-ray he said he nearly fell of the bed. God completely healed him, and of course he was amazed. This has happened so many times. To date I have 63 recorded accounts of healing in this one house. Many other miracles have taken place in other parts of the prison also.

God's power and love are being demonstrated towards these men - it is just so amazing to be there and to witness these miracles. There is no doubt whatsoever that the Holy Spirit is moving within Maghaberry prison and within many prisons throughout the world today. God is raising up men and women today from the prison to be used as trophies of His Grace. I know that there will be many reading this article who are inmates. I want to add at this point, that the greatest miracle of all is the miracle of Salvation - the day a man or woman puts their faith and trust in Christ. I would rather see a person accept Christ than be healed in their body, for one day the body will die.

I also want to add, as I draw to a close, that if you are reading this now and have a problem in your health, I want you just now to place your hand on that area of your body. I am now just going to say a few simple words: "in Jesus' name you are now healed". That's it, do not be surprised that the pain or sickness is gone. God has just touched you and demonstrated His love towards you. Do share your testimony. I pray for each one of you who read this within the prison walls, to come to know Christ in your own life.

God Bless You All.

STORIES OF HEALING – Look up these Verses in Your Bibles
1)  MATTHEW Chapter 10 v. 1 - 8 5)  JOHN Chapter 4 v. 46 - 54
2)  MATTHEW Chapter 12 v. 9 - 12 6)  ACTS Chapter 3 v. 1 - 16
3)  LUKE Chapter 5 v. 17 - 26 7)  ACTS Chapter 5 v. 12 - 16
4)  LUKE Chapter 8 v. 40 - 56  8)  ACTS Chapter 28 v. 7 - 10

 
"If The Lord Is With Us, Why Has…This Happened?   -   Judges 6 v.13

A hundred years ago Germany's exclusive textile mills had special rooms dedicated to weaving the world's finest lace. Each room was dark, except for the light falling from a small window onto the weaver's work. That's because lace is more beautiful when the weaver is in darkness and his work is in the light. Usually God's purposes are revealed and His power displayed, in our darkest experiences when, like Gideon, you ask, "if the Lord is with (me), why ... has this happened? When there seems to be no rhyme or reason, God's promise is, "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord …who (calls) you by name" (Isaiah 45 v.3).

Anybody can be faithful in good times, but standing "by night in the house of the Lord" (Psalm 134 v.1) takes real commitment. George Matheson wrote: Will I remain in God's house at night ... love Him for Who He is ... know I desire not the gift but the giver? When I can remain ... during darkness of night and worship ... I've accepted Him for Himself alone.

When the Israelites faced their greatest challenge, the Red Sea, the Bible says, "All that night the Lord drove the sea back" (Exodus 14 v.21) Be encouraged, God is working, even though you can't see Him.

After all, how can God give us "songs in the night" (Job 35 v.10) if the sun always shines? Jesus said, "What I tell you in the dark, speak in daylight" (Matthew 10 v.27). It's in life's dark places that God shares things which strengthen you, and encourages those around you.

Excerpt taken from The Word 4u 2day, UCB Radio, PO Box 255, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8YY 
Tel 0845 604040. Free Issues available UK and Republic of Ireland

If you want to accept Christ into your own life then pray this following prayer. God Bless.

"Dear Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I am willing to turn away from my sin and now I invite Jesus to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour. I am willing by God's Grace to follow and obey Christ as Lord of my life."

If you have prayed this prayer and have accepted Christ into your heart and life, please let us know, so we can pray and help you in your new life in Christ.


22-July-08